Saturday 11th - Friday 17th April 2020

Intro:

Despite entering the 4^th week of lockdown, once daily exercise still provided the opportunity for local birders to add six new species to the Anglesey year list – the best being a scarce egret.

Passerines

Most of the spring migrants have now been reported, with the latest additions being a Garden Warbler on the west side of the harbour at Amlwch Port (15^th), a Common Cuckoo heard calling between Wylfa and Cemaes (15^th) and a Reed Warbler at the Inland Sea (16^th).  A Sedge Warbler at Holyhead (12^th), a Tree Pipit was over Cemaes (11^th), whilst 35 White Wagtails were at the gorad flood, Valley (13^th).  A Yellowhammer at Holyhead mountain (11^th) was well away from its normal stronghold where 10 were seen at Brynteg (14^th).  A Hooded Crow was seen flying east over Holyhead (11^th, 17^th).

Probably two of the most obvious gaps in this year’s list of passerines are Lesser Whitethroat and Yellow Wagtail.  Will they be seen in the forthcoming week?

Divers & Grebes: 

The long staying Great Northern Diver continued to be seen on the Inland Sea (11^th – 17^th).  Also present were the 2 Slavonian Grebe, which are now in summer plumage (11^th - 17^th).

Seabirds:

Nothing of note reported this week.

Herons, Egrets:

After a quite time in respect of scarce Herons and Egrets, 3 Cattle Egrets on the 14^th changed matters considerably.  Initially seen on the Inland Sea, at the Ynys Leurad inlet, the birds then relocated to the gorad flood, Valley.

Swans, Geese & Ducks:

8 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Beaumaris (16^th), whilst the 2 Long-tailed Ducks were still at Cemlyn (14^th). We might well have expected a Garganey somewhere, but the best sites seem not to be covered by the routes taken on daily walks.  

Waders:

2 Whimbrel were over Cemaes (11^th), 1 past Amlwch Port (15^th), 4 on the Inland Sea (17^th).  Common Sandpipers were at Holyhead Bay and Inland Sea (16^th). 

Gulls & Terns: 

The first Common Terns were seen over the Inland Sea (15^th) and the same site had earlier had 20 Sandwich Terns (12^th).  2 Mediterranean Gulls were over Cemaes (14^th), with 1 at the Inland Sea (15^th).

Raptors:

An Osprey was seen over the Inland Sea (17^th).

Species – year to date:

Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cattle Egret, Common Tern, Common Cuckoo and Osprey were all new species for this year, taking the running total for Anglesey for the year to date to 170. 

The forthcoming week 18^th – 24^th April?:

Previous years have provided a good array of spring overshoots. A Golden Oriole was at Cemlyn & Henborth of the 18^th in 2013, whilst Black Kites were at Llyn Llywenan on the 20^th in 2001 and at Llansadwn on the 24^th in 1987.  A Wodchat Shrike was at Aberffraw estuary on the 22^nd in 1968 and a Bee-eater at Malltraeth on the 22^nd in 1985.  Rare or scarce waders have included a Kentish Plover on Malltraeth cob pool on the 19^th in 1977 and an American Golden Plover at Cemlyn on the 21^st in 2006.  Perhaps one of the birds that was enjoyed by many local birders was a Bluethroat at Cemlyn from the 24^th-25^th in 2009.